Chapter 16: The Fall Of The Serpent
The coiled shadow of the Void Serpent loomed like a storm cloud over the Bloodforge Arena.
Virell, now fully transformed, exhaled a mist of silver-black qi. His scales shimmered like obsidian stars. Every twitch of his tail warped the air.
He moved.
SWOOSH—BOOM!
A blur of darkness slammed into Malikai, sending him flying through three shattered columns. Blood gushed from his mouth before his body even hit the ground.
Virell was fast—faster than before, and far heavier. His tail strikes cracked the arena tiles like paper, and his serpent form twisted midair with near-unpredictable fluidity.
Malikai coughed, steadied himself, and charged again, axe dragging.
They met in a collision of body and spirit.
Malikai leapt high, axe overhead. Virell's jaw snapped upward, forcing Malikai to twist midair and bring the blade down at an angle.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as axe met scale. Malikai landed behind Virell, but the tail whipped around, hitting him square in the ribs.
CRACK!
He flew across the arena again.
Malikai ducked low beneath a sweeping tail, rolled forward, and threw his axe like a spear. It embedded into Virell's side, making the beast screech.
But even before Malikai could follow up—
THWACK!
Virell's wings beat once, creating a pressure wave that sent Malikai tumbling.
He was bleeding again. His wings, useless stumps. Bones visible beneath torn skin.
But his eyes never dimmed.
They fought through blood and bone.
Malikai's speed adapted, using rebounding steps, redirecting force. Every strike Virell made came closer to being dodged, parried, or redirected. His axe returned to his hand like a phantom limb, each throw more accurate, each catch cleaner.
Virell grew slower—wounds piling, qi dwindling.
He lashed his tail.
Malikai caught it with both hands.
BANG!
His feet slid, his arms snapped, but he held.
With a guttural roar, he spun and hurled Virell headfirst into the arena wall.
BOOM!
Stone collapsed. Dust clouded.
Virell emerged, breathing heavily, bleeding from the mouth. One horn cracked. His scales dulled.
Malikai stood, shoulders drooped, every inch of him soaked in blood—yet his aura never dimmed.
They charged.
Their final exchange was not elegant.
It was savage.
Virell tried to crush him with his body. Malikai let him, only to drive his axe up into the serpent's jaw.
SCREEEECH!
Virell collapsed, shifting back into his humanoid form, body broken and twitching.
Malikai limped over, eyes emotionless. The crowd was silent.
He knelt. Raised his hand.
And plunged it into Virell's chest.
SPLORCH.
Gasps echoed.
He pulled out a beating, void-black heart, surrounded by a golden core, and pulsing with Nagarajin blood essence.
He sealed it into his spatial ring.
The Nagarajin Clan, seated in their high pavilion, erupted in fury.
"HOW DARE HE!"
"He desecrates the sacred essence!"
"Kill him—!"
But they could do nothing.
Bloodforge Rule #1: Winner Takes All.
Virell had gambled and lost.
Malikai removed Virell's space ring next. A soft chime echoed as he slipped it onto his own finger.
Inside were many heavenly treasures—spirit stones, serpent-scale armors, forbidden manuals, ancient herbs, even two drops of ancestral Nagarajin bloodline.
The fool had come fully loaded, never expecting to die.
The arena was in uproar.
But Malikai turned his back to them all, slow and battered, but never once looking back.
His spine was straight. His face, blood-soaked and swollen, was nonchalant, as if he hadn't just clawed his way through death.
From the waiting tunnel, Iris appeared, eyes wide and shining.
She said nothing, only walked behind him.
A small, relieved smile touched her lips.
They left the arena together, leaving behind silence, blood, and the corpse of a fallen divine beast.